Husqvarna 1153158-95 Manuel D’Utilisation

English

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 27

During tree maintenance work above ground level, the 
working area must always be secured and marked out 
with signs, tape or the like. The safe distance between the 
top of the tree that is to be felled and the nearest 
workplace must be at least 2 1/2 times the height of the 
tree. Make sure that no-one else is in this risk zone before 
or during felling.

The aim is to fell the tree in a position where you can limb 
and cross-cut the log as easily as possible. You want it to fall 
in a location where you can stand and move about safely. 
The main thing to avoid is that the falling tree top should get 
jammed in another tree. Taking down a ”jammed” tree top is 
very dangerous (see point 4 in this section).

Once you have decided which way you want the top of the 
tree to fall you must assess which way the top of the tree 
would fall naturally.

Several factors affect this:
•

Lean of the tree

•

Bend

•

Wind direction

•

Arrangement of branches

•

Weight of snow

You may find you are forced to let the tree-top fall in its 
natural direction because it is impossible or dangerous to 
try to make it fall in the direction you first intended.

Another very important factor, which does not affect the 
felling direction but does affect your safety, is to make sure 
the tree has no damaged or dead branches that might 
break off and hit you during felling.

Topping a tree is done using three cuts. First you make 
the directional cuts, which consist of the top cut and the 
bottom cut, then you finish with the felling cut. By placing 
these cuts correctly you can control the felling direction 
very accurately.

To make the directional cuts you begin with the top cut. Try 
to take your position in the tree on the right side and cut 
on the pull stroke.

Next make the bottom cut so that it finishes exactly at the 
end of the top cut.

The directional cuts should run 1/4 of the diameter 
through the trunk and the angle between the top cut and 
bottom cut should be 45

°.

The line where the two cuts meet is called the directional 
cut line. This line should be perfectly horizontal and at 
right angles (90

°) to the chosen felling direction.